Proposed Northside-UTSA arena project remains in limbo

The superintendent of Northside School District has told UTSA beat writer Dan McCarney that a joint-venture arena for UTSA and Northside School District won’t be funded for at least another three years.

Folks told McCarney that Northside’s bond committee had agreed to send a proposal to the school board asking for public funding for its half of the proposed $140 million arena. The proposal would have been separate from Northside’s main bond package.

UTSA, however, could not commit to its share at this time.

“I think they are committed,” Folks said, “and hopefully they’ll be in better position to move forward (in the future). Once both entities are ready, it’s only a matter of going out and asking the people of north San Antonio if they’re interested in helping.”

UTSA likely will need a new arena if it hopes to get an invitation to join a more high-profile conference.

Also on the wish list is an $84 million athletic complex.

UTSA has already raised $22 million in public financing for that project. Financing is needed for the balance on a complex that would include track and field, soccer, baseball, softball, tennis and a core building with offices and lockers.

Another element – perhaps the key element of the overall plan — is to raise $15 million over the next several years for football. UTSA has raised $2.1 million, which includes the recent $1 million donation from Jim Bodenstedt.